Paneer Shawarma is a vegetarian tackle the basic shawarma the place paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) is marinated in a spiced yogurt combination, then pan-fried or grilled, and wrapped in flatbread together with yogurt sauce, tahini sauce, toum (garlic sauce) or hummus alongwith veggies and pickles. This Paneer Shawarma Recipe captures the essence of conventional Center Japanese delicacies with its genuine mix of spices and herbs. It’s scrumptious, satisfying, full of taste, and nice for occasions you’re yearning for a filling snack on-the-go!


About Shawarma
Shawarma is a well-liked Center Japanese avenue meals, initially from Turkey, and a favourite amongst meals lovers worldwide.
It’s historically made by layering components on a vertical rotisserie (or lengthy spit) and slow-roasting them till completely cooked. The cooked layers are thinly sliced and served in varied methods.
Shawarma will be wrapped in Pita Bread or different flatbreads, or paired as a aspect dish with rice or salads. It’s usually accompanied by hummus, tahini sauce, pickled greens, and garlic sauce (toum) for added taste.
On this put up, I’ve shared one in all my favourite variants of this well-liked snack, Paneer Shawarma Recipe. This Shawarma recipe is powerful and is fairly addictive too. Strive it!
The basic shawarma recipe will be simply tailored to make vegetarian or vegan variations. Vegetarian choices usually embrace paneer, just like the Shawarma recipe that I’ve shared right here.
Whereas vegan alternate options could characteristic Soya Chaap (mock meat), tofu, roasted greens, seitan or tempeh.
At residence, the place a rotisserie isn’t sensible, a frying pan works completely for cooking the marinated paneer.
The important thing to a scrumptious shawarma lies within the spice mix used for the marinade. This aspect is essential and may considerably affect the ultimate style.
About Paneer Shawarma Recipe
My Paneer Shawarma Recipe incorporates a flavorful marinade made with a mixture of spices, herbs, olive oil and yogurt. Whereas sumac provides a novel contact, it’s elective, so don’t fear if it’s unavailable.
To arrange the Paneer Shawarma, marinate the paneer squares within the combination for at the least half-hour or up to a couple hours to let the flavors seep in. For deeper taste, you may even marinate them in a single day within the fridge.
As soon as marinated, pan-fry the paneer squares and slice them into strips or batons. These are then wrapped in flatbread, unfold with tahini sauce and yogurt-lemon sauce, and layered with lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickled cucumbers (gherkins).
I additionally present recipes for each the yogurt-lemon sauce and tahini sauce. Though the ingredient listing for this Shawarma recipe could seem intensive, the method is easy. Making the sauces and marinade is so simple as mixing the components collectively.
For advance preparation, you can also make your pita or flatbread a day upfront and marinate the paneer forward of time. It’s greatest to organize the sauces recent earlier than assembling the shawarma wraps.
This mentioned recipe makes for 4 shawarma wraps or rolls. Simply scale up the Paneer Shawarma recipe to make for extra servings.
Whereas the ingredient listing for the recipe appears to be like daunting, however belief me it’s not. It’s simple to make this snack particularly if in case you have your flatbreads prepared or are utilizing frozen flatbreads.
Step-by-Step Information
The best way to make Paneer Shawarma
Make Yogurt Marinade
- First, get all of your components prepared. You may be needing the bottom spices and seasonings which might be listed under for the marinade. These are:
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, elective
- ½ teaspoon candy paprika (or cayenne or Kashmiri crimson chili powder)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon floor coriander
- 1 teaspoon floor cumin
- ¼ teaspoon floor allspice
- ¼ teaspoon floor cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon floor cloves
- ¼ teaspoon floor nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon floor turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon inexperienced cardamom powder
- ½ teaspoon crimson chilli flakes, elective
- ¼ teaspoon sumac, elective
- ¼ teaspoon floor ginger (dry ginger powder)


2. Subsequent, in a bowl, take 3 tablespoons thick yogurt. Add ½ teaspoon minced garlic or garlic paste and salt in accordance with style.
Moreover add the entire floor spices listed above.
Tip: You may as well take 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt + 1 tablespoon olive oil.


3. Combine completely to get an evenly combined marinade.
If the yogurt will not be bitter or tangy, contemplate including about ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice or in accordance with style.


Marinate Paneer
4. Slice 250 grams block of paneer into thick slabs or squares.


5. Switch the paneer squares to the marinade. Gently and evenly coat them with the marinade from all sides.
Cowl the bowl and put aside to marinate the paneer for about half-hour or upto 1 to 2 hours within the fridge.


Fry Marinated Paneer
6. Warmth oil for frying in a frying pan or skillet.Â
Pan fry the paneer on medium-low to medium warmth.


7. Flip over when one aspect is golden and fry the second aspect. The marinade combination will caramelize and style scrumptious as soon as the paneer squares are fried properly.


8. Pan fry till crisp and golden making certain the paneer doesn’t dry out. Additionally, keep away from frequent flipping, and let all sides prepare dinner undisturbed till golden.
Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes general, giving about 2 minutes for all sides to prepare dinner.
Make sure that to not overcook the paneer because it turns into chewy.
If there may be any marinade left, add to the paneer when frying the final batch. Prepare dinner with the paneer and take away/scrape the masala bits from the pan. It’s scrumptious. Combine it with the paneer.
Set the fried paneer apart on a plate.


9. When heat or cool, reduce the fried paneer into batons or slices.Â
You may cease right here and serve the Paneer Shawarma with a aspect of Vegetable Salad, the yogurt sauce and a aspect of flavored rice like this Saffron Rice or with some Potato Fries or Wedges.
Contemplate pairing it with this tasty Chickpea Salad as properly and some flatbreads or pita bread by the aspect.


Extra Prep
10. In the identical little little bit of oil that’s remaining within the pan or skillet, choose to sautĂ© 1 cup sliced onions for 1 to 2 minutes simply to take away their pungency.
That is an elective step. You may maintain the onions uncooked, for those who like.Â


11. Subsequent, start prepping the veggies. Rinse, dry and chop lettuce roughly. Slice tomatoes. Slice or chop the 7 to eight pickled cucumbers or gherkins.
You’ll need 2 cups of sliced lettuce and 1 cup sliced tomatoes which have been deseeded. You may at all times add much less of those veggies for those who like.
Additionally put aside 2 tablespoons parsley or coriander leaves (cilantro) and ½ cup sliced common cucumber, elective


Make Sauces
12. Make the tahini sauce and yogurt sauce. You may both select to make each sauces or just one. In case you have hummus, you should utilize it as properly.
You may examine my recipe of a scrumptious Hummus that I make with dried chickpeas.
Make Yogurt Lemon Sauce
In a second bowl, take the next components:
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or thick yogurt
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice (or add as per style)
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon coriander or parsley or dill, elective
- ¼ teaspoon floor black pepper or as wanted
- salt in accordance with style


13. Combine completely and put aside.


Make Tahini Sauce
14. In a small bowl, take the under listed components and blend very properly and put aside.
- ½ cup tahini (unsweetened)
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- â…“ cup heat water
- just a few pinches of salt or add in accordance with style, elective


Assemble & Make Paneer Shawarma Wraps
15. Take a flatbread or pita bread. You may as well use Naan or a big Roti or saj bread.
You may flippantly heat the pita bread or any flatbread on a skillet or within the oven.
Unfold a skinny layer of tahini sauce first on the flatbread.
Subsequent, unfold the yogurt-lemon sauce in a skinny layer. At this level, you may add a spicy chili sauce or hummus, for those who choose.Â


16. Place the chopped lettuce leaves on the unfold sauces in a single layer. High with fried paneer shawarma slices within the middle of the flatbread.
Divide paneer into 4 parts and use accordingly to make 4 shawarma.


17. Layer with the sliced onions, tomatoes and sliced pickled gherkins or cucumbers. Sprinkle chopped coriander or parsley.Â
You may as well sprinkle some sumac, zatar, black pepper or chili flakes, for those who like. Add some feta cheese for those who choose.
If you do not need to unfold the sauces on the flatbread, choose to drizzle with them at this level.


18. Fold and serve Paneer Shawarma straightaway with the remaining yogurt and tahini dips or hummus. Safe with a parchment paper or foil.
Equally, layer with the paneer, toppings and make extra shawarmas.


Serving Ideas
You may benefit from the Paneer Shawarma in varied methods:
- As a wrap or roll, as described earlier.
- Served alongside spiced or flavored rice, fries, vegetable salad, pickles and quite a lot of sauces.
If making wraps, slice the paneer into skinny strips or batons. For serving as a salad or by itself, reduce the paneer into chunks or cubes.
Pair it with a refreshing Center Japanese drink like sharbat, mint lemonade or the Indian basic Lassi.
For a keto or low-carb possibility, serve the shawarma with greens and pickles as a salad.
Skilled Ideas
- Utilizing paneer: Go for recent paneer, ideally selfmade, and reduce it into evenly sized slabs or squares for uniform cooking. Make sure that to not over-fry, as it might make the paneer chewy and dense.
- Cooking paneer: Pan-frying on a tawa or skillet is really helpful for sooner outcomes in comparison with oven grilling.
- Yogurt choice: Use thick or Greek yogurt with a tangy taste. If the yogurt lacks tanginess, add ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar. Modify the amount of lemon juice as per your style preferences.
- Marination time: Permitting the paneer to marinate longer enhances the flavour infusion. Even a 30-minute marination yields good outcomes.
- Adjusting spices: Modify the amount of candy paprika or crimson chili powder to fit your spice tolerance. For a spicier marinade, be happy so as to add extra.
- Sauce choices: Select from yogurt-lemon sauce, tahini sauce or hummus. You may as well embrace harissa or your favourite chili sauce for added warmth.
- Including texture & taste: Incorporate recent greens like onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and lettuce for a crisp texture and enhanced taste. Pickled choices corresponding to gherkins, onions, cucumbers, beets, carrots, or turnips additionally work properly. Olives will be added for additional taste.
- Vegan & gluten-free alternate options: For a vegan model, substitute paneer with tofu, unripe jackfruit, combined greens, seitan, tempeh, or soya chaap, and use plant-based yogurt. For a gluten-free possibility, pair with gluten-free flatbread or serve alongside rice.
FAQs
Ideally, marinate the paneer for at the least half-hour to permit it to soak up the flavors. For higher outcomes, marinate it for just a few hours or in a single day within the fridge.
For a vegan different, use plant-based yogurt. If unavailable, you may combine coconut cream or cashew cream with slightly lemon juice for tanginess.
Sure, you may put together the marinade and marinate the paneer a day prior. The sauces and flatbreads will also be made forward. Assemble the shawarma wraps simply earlier than serving for the freshest style.
Pita bread is conventional, however you should utilize naan, tortillas and even gluten-free flatbreads for dietary preferences.
Extra Wraps & Rolls Recipes To Strive!
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Paneer Shawarma Recipe
Paneer Shawarma is a vegetarian adaptation of the basic shawarma, the place paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) is marinated in a spiced yogurt combine, then pan-fried or grilled, and wrapped in a flatbread with yogurt sauce, tahini sauce, toum (garlic sauce), or hummus plus veggies and pickles. This Paneer Shawarma recipe brings the standard flavors of the Center Japanese delicacies to life with its genuine mixture of spices and herbs.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Prepare dinner Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Complete Time 1 hour
Forestall your display from going darkish whereas making the recipe
Making Marinade
Combine the yogurt with the garlic paste, salt, sumac all the bottom spices listed beneath ‘For Marinade’ part above within the Components part.
Add few squares of paneer to the marinade and gently coat the paneer evenly from all sides.
Warmth oil for frying in a frying pan or skillet.
Pan fry paneer on medium low to medium warmth. Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes in complete, giving about 2 minutes for all sides to prepare dinner.
Flip over when one aspect is golden and fry the second aspect.
If there may be any marinade left, add to the paneer when frying the final batch. Prepare dinner with the paneer and take away/scrape the masala bits from the pan. They’re scrumptious. Combine it later with the fried paneer.
Set the pan fried marinated paneer shawarma apart. When heat or cool slice into batons.
Extra Preparation
Rinse, dry and chop lettuce.
Slice onions and tomatoes.
Within the remaining leftover little bit of oil within the pan, choose to sauté onions for 1 to 2 minutes simply to take away their pungency. That is an elective step. You may select to maintain the onions uncooked for those who like.
Subsequent the sauces have to be made. You may both make each the tahini sauce and yogurt sauce talked about within the recipe or choose to make both one, relying on the supply of components.
Making Tahini Sauce
To make tahini sauce, in a small bowl, mix and blend evenly in addition to completely all these components – tahini, minced garlic, additional virgin olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper powder and heat water.
Maintain the ready tahini sauce apart.
Make Yogurt Lemon Sauce
In a small mixing bowl, combine very well greek yogurt (or thick yogurt), lemon juice, additional virgin olive oil, minced garlic, chopped coriander or parsley or dill and black pepper powder and salt in accordance with style.
Set this tangy creamy sauce apart.
Assembling & Making Paneer Shawarma
Take one flatbread and place it in your work floor.
Unfold tahini sauce first in a skinny layer.
Subsequent unfold yogurt sauce. At this level you could possibly add your most popular chilli sauce for those who choose.
Unfold lettuce evenly.
High with fried paneer shawarma batons or slices. Divide paneer into 4 parts and use accordingly to make 4 shawarma.
High with the thinly sliced onions and tomatoes. Place some sliced pickled cucumber or gherkins.
Lastly sprinkle some chopped coriander leaves or parsley. At this level, choose to sprinkle some paprika, floor black pepper, sumac, zatar or chili flakes. In the event you like, add some feta cheese.
Fold right into a neat roll and serve Paneer Shawarma Wraps right away. Similary make the remaining 3 wraps and serve.
Benefit from the Paneer Shawarma Roll as is or with a aspect dip of the tahini sauce, yogurt sauce, chilli sauce or any of your most popular dipping sauces.
- The extra time, the higher the paneer will get infused with the flavors of the marinade. half-hour marination additionally works properly.
- Use thick yogurt or greek yogurt which is bitter or tangy. If the yogurt will not be bitter, add about ½ to 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to it. You may add extra lemon juice if wanted in accordance with your style buds.
- Use recent paneer, ideally selfmade. Chop the paneer into related sized slabs or squares for even cooking. Make sure that to not fry them for a very long time as they are going to grow to be chewy and dense.
- Modify the candy paprika or crimson chilli powder as wanted. You may add extra of it for a spicier marinade.
- I might recommend to pan fry the paneer as an alternative of oven grilling them as cooking them on a tawa or frying pan is quicker than grilling within the oven.
- Recent greens like onions, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, not solely add a textural crispness but additionally tons of taste.
- I’ve used pickled gherkins however be happy to make use of pickled onions, cucumber, beets, carrots and turnips.
- For the sauces, you could possibly use both of those, the Yogurt Lemon Sauce and Tahini Sauce (that I’ve shared right here) and Hummus. You may additionally add some harissa or your most popular chilli sauce.
- For a keto or low carb model, serve the Paneer Shawarma with the greens and pickle like a salad.
- To veganize the recipe, use tofu, unripe jackfruit, seitan, tempeh, soya chaap. Moreover use a plant primarily based yogurt. For gluten-free desire, use a gluten free flat bread or serve with rice.
Diet Info
Paneer Shawarma Recipe
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 641 Energy from Fats 423
% Day by day Worth*
Fats 47g72%
Saturated Fats 14g88%
Trans Fats 0.003g
Polyunsaturated Fats 9g
Monounsaturated Fats 17g
Ldl cholesterol 44mg15%
Sodium 680mg30%
Potassium 457mg13%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 804IU16%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.2mg12%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 3mg15%
Vitamin B6 0.3mg15%
Vitamin B12 0.2µg3%
Vitamin C 12mg15%
Vitamin D 0.01µg0%
Vitamin E 3mg20%
Vitamin Ok 52µg50%
Calcium 429mg43%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 65µg16%
Iron 4mg22%
Magnesium 77mg19%
Phosphorus 387mg39%
Zinc 2mg13%
* P.c Day by day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie food plan.